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What is Antabuse?

© Mignon Quintyne

Antabuse is not some new variation on alcohol abuse or cute new name for alcohol addiction, Antabuse is a treatment option for alcoholics. A prescription drug, Antabuse basically prevents the ingestion of alcohol in chronic alcoholics and causes that person to become hypersensitive to alcohol. Persons using this drug do so with the full, sobering knowledge of the potentially distasteful effects they may experience should they ingest any form of alcohol while taking this drug. This includes alcohol ingested from cough syrups, herbal tinctures, or even alcohol based baking essences.

How it Works

Antabuse hinders certain enzymes found within the liver that assist alcohol degeneration in our bodies. As a result, there is an accumulation of acetaldehyde in the blood. High levels of acetaldehyde produce some really nasty side effects which can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.

Typically I've found that Antabuse is most helpful to those alcoholics at the end of their rope with no other alternative for them to end their addiction. These are the persons that have been in and out of treatment centers, have been referred to counselor after counselor, attend AA meetings more often than they attend church, or cannot, no matter how much they try, stay dry for any extended period. Despite the fact that Antabuse quells the urge to drink and is a great motivator to stop drinking forever, the decision to use Antabuse should not be entered into lightly.

Side Effects
Without the presence of alcohol in the bloodstream, Antabuse produces drowsiness, headaches, restlessness, fatigue, a metallic or garlic taste in the mouth, psychoses, and impotence.

With the presence of alcohol in the bloodstream, Antabuse produces the following symptoms, heart palpitations, tachycardia, arrhythmia, cardiovascular collapse, mild to severe chest pain, throbbing headaches, vertigo, weakness, uneasiness, confusion, unconsciousness, nausea, severe vomiting, thirst, respiratory difficulties, hyperventilation, seizures, and maybe even death.

As with any medical condition, you are advised to speak at length with your physician and to read everything you could to make an informed decision.

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If you or someone you know are taking Antabuse as a treatment option for alcohol addiction, I encourage you to share your experience with the viewers of this Web site.

Take care.

MQ

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